The Inmates Are Running the Asylum Ch. 1-2

The Inmates Are Running the Asylum

Ch. 1-2
Cooper, Alan
Sams Publishing, 2004

Summary:

The author begins the reading by discussing the problems that computers can cause when they are integrated into a large range of devices. The root of this problem is that machines that integrate with computers are becoming more and more like computers and less like machines. This is a problem because their operation is becoming less intuitive and less obvious to non computer power users. These non power users are often frustrated with their inability to communicate effectively with these machines and feel as though their are being punished for their lack of knowledge. Software designers need to take this into account and design systems intuitively to allow non power users to use them effectively as well. Failure to do so will further increase software apartheid, where workplaces are separated between those people who can interact with certain software and those who cannot.

The author continues the next chapter by discussing cognitive friction and its importance to computer human interaction. Cognitive friction is described by the author as "the resistance encountered by a human intellect when it engages with a complex system of rules that change as the problem changes." Cognitive friction in interfaces can be attributed to the fact that user interfaces are often written by software engineers instead of interface designers. Software engineers will often choose to design the interface based on what is easiest to implement rather than what is best for the user. Instead, interfaces should be designed based on how the end user interacts with the program. 

Discussion:

This reading is interesting because it describes the plight of the non power user. As a power user it is often hard for me to understand how people can struggle with what I believe are very intuitive interface designs. The major flaw that I found with this reading was its wordiness. The two chapters consisted of several pages and could have been condensed very easily. This reading can be extended to software engineers that want to design user interfaces.